Play video
• Chairman and CEO of Pullmantur Cruises, a leading shipping company in Spain and of reference in Latin America, highlights the economic impact of the cruise industry and its transversality.
• He announces major new developments for the 2016 - 2017 season in the region and points to the improvement in infrastructures as a challenge.
Madrid, 11 February 2016.- "Latin America has a very significant weight within the strategy of Pullmantur Cruceros, representing nearly half of our passengers," claims Jorge Vilches, Chairman and CEO of the Grupo Pullmantur, a leading shipping company in Spain and of reference in Latin America. "We are very satisfied with the development we are seeing in this market and for this reason we shall introduce new developments in 2017,” he adds.
Due to the constant growth in the number of passengers over the recent years, the industry has become a driver of economic development. Globally it has contributed 119,900 million US $ to the global economy in 2014 and employed more than 930,000 people full time.
In this regard, Vilches points out that the cruise industry "has a very deep impact across all the ports where the ships berth". As an example, "each cruise passenger that arrives at a European port spends an average of 65 US $ and, if they are embarking, the contribution is 90 US $, expenditure that automatically reaches local services and businesses".
Currently Pullmantur Cruises’ operations cover the south, east and west of the Caribbean Sea and has Cartagena de Indias, Colon and Santo Domingo as main embarkation ports. Despite the fact that "we are very happy to be present in Latin America and shall continue for a long time," Vilches also reminds us that there are challenges that must be faced. Among them, infrastructures: "It is necessary to invest and work more under the guidance of public organisations because this industry generates many transversal benefits to all society," he says.
Proposal based on quality
"We are committed to giving passengers the best service on board and the best value proposition to our customers in Spanish and always with quality and proximity," assures the chairman and CEO.
Now the team of Pullmantur Cruises is working on 'Moved by you', a new project that seeks to improve a passenger’s experience in those matters that are important to them. "We are taking great care of continuously improving food and beverages on board, diversifying our excursions and investing in each one of our ships so that our passengers’ experience shall be even better," explains Jorge Vilches.
Pullmantur Cruceros has therefore signed an agreement with the great two-star Michelin star chef Paco Roncero, who will redesign the on board menus. In addition, new procedures will be set up that will lead to a more comprehensive selection of the products with which to prepare the dishes, which undoubtedly will be converted into a benchmark in the industry. Equally, it already offers its passengers the best 'All-Inclusive' of the industry, formed by a wide variety of first class national and international quality brands.
New routes for the 2016 - 2017 season
Among the Pullmantur Cruises’ surprises for the upcoming season in the Caribbean, the new itinerary "Islands of the Caribbean" should be mentioned, a route that visits "some of the most beautiful islands in this sea", according to Jorge Vilches. Aboard the Zenith, passengers shall be able to enjoy the unique itinerary in the Eastern Caribbean with Latino atmosphere and conducted in Spanish, with the first trip scheduled for 23rd December 2016 from Santo Domingo. This itinerary includes visits to La Romana, St Maarten, Antigua, Saint Lucia and Barbados, destinations with abundant virgin nature, idyllic beaches and a festive, genuine and intact culture that will captivate passengers.
While aboard the Monarch - flagship of Pullmantur Cruceros-, from the 4th November 2016 travellers can enjoy the ' Legendary Caribbean', a route full of contrasts where history and culture, relaxation and beach coexist in perfect harmony. Puerto Limon (Costa Rica), Colon (Panama), Cartagena de Indias (Colombia), Jamaica and Grand Cayman are the stopovers that make up this unforgettable trip.
In short, people who choose Pullmantur Cruceros as a holiday option will find: "The Latino atmosphere that characterises us, a customised value proposition, food that you will enjoy and the highest quality onboard service at an affordable price", Jorge Vilches acknowledges.
About Grupo Pullmantur
Grupo Pullmantur has a trajectory of more than 40 years in the world of tourism and focuses its activities in the cruise business. Since 2006, it belongs to the American shipping company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and operates under the brands Pullmantur Cruceros (Spain, where it is the leading shipping company, and Latin America) and Croisières de France, aimed at the French-speaking market. The Group, with headquarters in Madrid, has commercial offices in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, France and Portugal.
It has a daily capacity for more than 10,000 passengers and its ships are located in the Mediterranean Sea, Caribbean Sea, coast of Brazil and northern seas of Europe.
11 February 2016
